Kia says that its updated-for-2014 Optima hybrid is more efficient than its predecessor, and we believe the manufacturer. Unfortunately, those gains don’t result in any improvements in the ultimate efficiency metric: mpg. Added for this year are front bumper vents and 16- and 17-inch wheels that are said to improve aerodynamic efficiencies. The grille is unique to the hybrid, as is the new LED front lighting.

The rest of the car is largely carry over. That’s the case with the hybrid system: a 2.4-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine rated for 159 horsepower and 154 lb-ft of torque, supplemented by an AC synchronous electric motor good for 47 horsepower and 151 lb-ft, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Total output, too, is unchanged at 199 horses and 235 lb-ft.

As such, the EPA’s fuel-economy estimates don’t change from last year. The entry-level LX model achieves 36 mpg in the city and 40 on the highway, while the laden-with-more-features EX is awarded ratings of 35/39.